Crafting Skylines & Shaping Lives. She’s Our Woman of the Year!
Photography by Jeremy Anaya Beauty
See the full 2025 Summer issue of Gladys Magazine. (Cover story on Pg. 66)
We’re so grateful to Gladys Magazine for putting Ashley on the cover! A well deserved place to showcase this amazing woman’s hard work and impact on the construction industry. Read Ashley’s story below:
"Imagine navigating a billion-dollar construction negotiation on your cell phone, while simultaneously advocating for your child's unique learning needs in a virtual IEP meeting, and your dog is whining at you to go for a walk. That's a glimpse into the world of Ashley Carlson, a woman who isn't just wearing many hats — she's building the scaffolding for a better world while skillfully balancing them all. As co-founder of MAC Design LLC, Ashley leads construction projects with a hands-on rigor forged from 14 years in the trenches of a male-dominated industry. She is also a full-time senior procurement manager at the global Owners Rep firm Linesight, managing the procurement of multi-billion-dollar projects, and above everything else, she is a wife and mom to two amazing neurodivergent children, who are her whole world — all while navigating being neurodivergent herself. Growing up north of Boston, Ashley was surrounded by her large family of tradesmen: plumbers, electricians, builders — men who taught her pride in craft and perseverance in hard work. But it was sports that taught her drive: “Winning was fun. I was never good at losing,” she laughs. That fire never left — it just found new fuel in justice, advocacy, and a vision for what the construction world could be.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in construction management, her career began in the field, working with some of the country’s biggest general contractors all over New England and in CO. After five years out on site, Ashley moved into preconstruction and estimating — a shift that allowed her to shape projects before they broke ground. She co-founded MAC Design LLC with her husband, Matthew Carlson, a licensed architect in Massachusetts, in response to a problem she saw again and again: clients lost in the process, often misled or left behind. At MAC Design, she acts as an owner’s rep and construction manager. “I compare what I do to being like a wedding planner, but for your construction project.” Her mission: bring clarity, compassion, and protection to clients who need a fierce but empathetic advocate. “Construction is a team sport,” she says. “And the best teams are built on trust, respect, and the ability to admit when we make mistakes — and learn from them.”
Ashley's story is more than just professional grit. It's a powerful narrative of systemic change and personal truth. She has faced significant adversity: being laid off during maternity leave, receiving unequal pay, and enduring harassment. Yet, she persists, not just for herself, but for the women who will follow. "If I quit and find a new career then the people who pushed me out win, and like I mentioned earlier, winning is not only fun but drives me, and too much is at stake to admit defeat and walk away". She openly shares her experience as a neurodivergent mother raising neurodivergent children while working full time in the corporate construction world. This is not just to break stigma, but to show a different path forward where all people feel seen and supported. "I want my kids to know that to achieve success, it takes hard work as well as asking for help, and there is no shame in that. Everybody has their own talents & abilities, when we embrace our strengths to fuel our passions and accept that we aren’t meant to be perfect at everything, then there is no stopping what each person can accomplish." Her home life may be loud and unconventional, but it’s filled with love, honesty, and healing—qualities she brings to her clients and community every day.
To Ashley, being Woman of the Year means more than a title — it’s a platform she shares. Whether mentoring students, uplifting small businesses, or advocating for accessible childcare and workplace equity, Ashley sees every win as a chance to pull others up beside her. “My commitment stems not only from necessity but also from a deep sense of purpose and care” she says. “I know I’m not the only one. There are so many women out there juggling impossible loads. I see them. They deserve to be celebrated, too. And we all deserve better” Ashley Carlson isn’t just redefining what it means to succeed in construction — she’s redefining what it means to lead, to mother, and to fight for something bigger than yourself."
